Check protector



Nov. 7, 1950 R. 1. HELLER 2,529,021

CHECK PROTECTOR Filed oci.4 4, 1946 FIG. J.

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Patented Nov. 7, 1950 y Y ifa UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v CHECK PROTECTOR Richard I. Heller, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application October 4, 1946, -Serial No. 701,313

(c1. iol-24) 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to check protectors in general and particularly to a personal portable check protector. More specifically, the invention comprises alight weight check protector incorporating simplified adjusting means to aid in the ready positioning of the check for the protecting operation.

Upon the completion of a negotiable instrument, such as a check, andv its issuance by the drawer the checkis in the hands of a bona de holder for value, substantially the equivalent of currency'and is free from all but a few defenses. Should the check be drawn with less than the necessary degree of care whereby it can be raised with ease by a wrongdoer, there is a resulting loss to an innocent party. To render substantially impossible the alteration of checks, it has been found that if they are marked or perforated with a multiplicity of small holes after being drawn it is substantially impossible to make changes therein without those changes being detected readily. Check protecting devices have been used extensively by business houses but the individual in the past has depended largely upon his own ingenuity and upon the peculiarities of'hisl own handwriting in the hope of avoiding forgeries. Such protecting means, however, are more important to the individual in'many Ycases than to the large business establishment. Percentage- Wise the check may represent a much larger proportion of his totalwealththan in the case of an established business and accordingly,l he should take at least as great precautionary measures.

With an appreciation of the desirability of providing va suitable check protector for the individual, a protector which can be transported readily with the check book and be available for use under all conditions, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved light weight personalized check protector.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simplified check protector incorporating improved positioning means vvhich enable the check to be positioned in operative relationship with ease.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved check protector adapted for transportation with the check pad and in which the check marking means are` moved to and from an operative position by a simple rotary motion These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therelwith the attached drawings to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawings in which apreferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a unit constructed in accordance with the present invention incorporated into a check pad jacket which is partially shown;

Figure 2 is a section looking in the directionof the arrows upon the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the check marking roller inv inoperative position;

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2 but with the roller lowered into operative position; vand Figure 4 is asection upon the line 4 4 of Figure 2 illustrating the roller in inoperative position;

The check marking unit constructed in'accordance with the present invention comprises a base I0 formed by a plate II provided at its forward extremities with vertical side walls I2 which are preferably integral. An arcuate channel or groove I3 extends transversely between the walls I2 and is interrupted by a multiplicity of ribs I6 lying in the plane of plate II and separated by slots II. A shaft 2| extends between the walls I2 being eccentrically mounted therein at seat-s 23 upon rotatable eccentric stub ends 22. A knurled roller or knob 24 is secured upon the extension of one stub end 22 outside of the adjacent wall I2. Being eccentrically positioned upon the stub yends 22 the shaft 2| is adapted to have its center shifted vertically upon the rotation of the knurled nut 24. To hold the shaft in its uppermost and lowermost positions retaining means are vprovidedcomprising flattened surfaces 26 on the shaft immediately inside the Vadjacent housing end wallr36 which are adapted to be contacted by the top surface of a folded leaf spring 21 carried by the plate II. Spring 2'I exerts resisting yholding force upon the contacted surface 26 to prevent unintentional rotation of the shaft 2| and is adapted, under the actuation of a sufficient turning force exerted upon the knob 24, to be flexed to enablethe shaft to rotate through an arc of whereupon it engages the opposed flattened surface. The extent of adjustment above the mid position is indicated by the distance X in Figure 2. Rotation of knob 24 through 180 causes the lowering of the shaft from its position in Figure 2 to its position of Figure 3,.

that is, a distance of 2X below its position in Figure 2.

' Rotatably positioned upon the shaft ZI are a plurality of freely rotatable toothed wheels or discs 3| which are spaced by ferrules or rings 32 of varying sizes. The end ferrules 32 are in fact elongated sleeves and prevent longitudinal dispad jacket, an example of which is indicated by the reference character 31 in Figure 1, the base plate is provided with spaced studs 38 which seat removably common spring actuated buttons or snaps 39. The end of the plate Il is adapted to extend into a pocket 4| formed in the jacket 3l and, with the studs 38 extending upwardly therethrough, the snaps 39 prevent unintended displacement. An unshown check pad is adapted to extend adjacent the unit and with the jacket folded in the usual manner, the unit is enclosed with the pad within the jacket.

In using the check protecting unit constructed in accordance with the present invention, after writing the check the user rotates the manually operable knob 24 until the shaft 2l in its uppermost position, that illustrated in Figures 2 and 4. He then inserts one end of the check below the roller until it extends beyond the housing 34Y `so that its end may be grasped by the fingers. Rotation of the feuer 2t through 180 then lowers the shaft 2| from its position of Figure 2 to its position of Figure 3, the downward movement causing the teeth of the wheels to penetrate the check. A pulling force exerted upon the pro-y jecting end of the check then causes it to move between the roller and the plate Il, the Wheels rotating with their teeth projecting through the check into the slots l1 in a manner which is apparent from a consideration of Figure 4 in which the wheels are positioned in their upper inoperative positions. The wheels 3| are so positioned longitudinally upon the shaft 2| that they are adapted to contact that portion of the check surface uponthe name of the payee, the amount payable, and the name of the drawer. The number of wheels can of course be increased or decreased should is be desired to provide the marking perforaticns in a larger or smaller area f the check. Following the complete passage of the check through the unit, the rollerA may be returned to its upper position or if desired, this operation can awaitthe reuse of the unit.

The unit has been illustrated and described as mounted on the jacket of a check pad but it is to be understood that any suitable mounting or support may be used, the unit functioning in the same manner whatever its location.

While the particular device herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is t0 be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A check protector comprising a base, a shaft including eccentric ends mounted on said base, means to rotate said eccentric ends to change the spacing of said shaft relative to said base, a rotatable check marker on said shaft adapted to contact and mark an underlying check with said shaft in its operative position, and means to retain said shaft in said operative position against accidental displacement comprising a flattened surface on said shaft and a leaf spring mounted on said base and adapted to seat in frictional retaining contact with said flattened surface.

2. A check protector comprising a base formed with parallel Walls, a shaft formed with eccentric ends rotatably seated in said walls, means to rotate said ends to adjust said shaft relative to said base comprising a knob at the end thereof and adjacent one of said walls, a toothed wheel rotatably supported by said shaft and adapted to penetrate a check positioned upon said base with said shaft in its operative position, a fixed housing extended between said walls enclosing and protecting said toothed wheel, said shaft being formed with at surfaces adjacent one of said walls, and a flat leaf spring carried by said base in position to contact said flat surfaces to retain said shaft in different positions relative to said base.

3. A check protector comprising a base, a shaft including eccentric ends mounted on said base, means to rotate said eccentric ends to change the spacing of said shaft relative to said base between operative and inoperative positions, a rotatable check marker on said shaft adapted to contact and mark an adjacent check with said shaft in its operative position, and means to retain said shaft in said operative and inoperative positions against accidental displacement comprising arcuately spaced vfiat surfaces on said shaft and a leaf spring mounted on said base and adapted to seat in frictional retaining contact with said flattened surfaces.

RICHARD I. HELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofA this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

